Tuesday 17 September 2013

Indian media: Twitter backlash over Miss America


Nina Davuluri performed an Indian dance at the Miss America Competition


Media in India are discussing the "shocking tweets" that followed the crowning of Indian-American Nina Davuluri as Miss America on Sunday.

Nina Davuluri, 24, became the target of what many saw as "racist" comments on social media within minutes after she won the title.

Many Twitter users in the US saw her as "non-American" because of her Indian background.

A barrage of comments voicing their "dislike and contempt over a non-American bagging the title" flooded Twitter, the India Today website reports.

"The tiara had barely been placed on her head and the customary tears of joy had just emerged when racist taunts erupted on social media, marring the moment of triumph for the first ever Miss America of Indian origin," says The Times of India.

"A 24-year-old from New York made history Sunday night as the first Indian American to be crowned Miss America, but was hit instantaneously by a racist backlash," wrote the Hindustan Times.

The Times of India, however, said that Ms Davuluri found support from some Twitter users. "Wow the hate that has come out since an Indian American won Miss America is sad. Guess we haven't come that far after all,'' one user tweeted.

Ms Davuluri too played down the harsh comments. "I have to rise above that. I always viewed myself as first and foremost American," the Hindustan Times quoted her as saying.

The Times of India, in another report, said Ms Davuluri's grandmother was busy receiving congratulatory messages in her home in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. "I am not surprised, I was always confident she would go places as I was aware of her abilities and dedication," the paper quoted her as saying.


Questions/to do:
  1. Summarise this article taken from the BBC News website.
  2. What do you think of beauty contests?
  3. Are the Twitter comments justified according to you?
  4. What aspects of globalization does this article bring up?

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